Club Arnage

This thread is not an attempt to be some sort of smart ass.

My desire to go to Lemans is what led me to this site well over a year ago.Just like some of you being unable to make it to Sebring,I have to realize that due to the tremendous expense me going to Lemans might  never happen. :(
 What really impressed about about all of you guys is how much thought and hard work you guys put into your camp sites as well as the all out attempt to have fun. Just like the group from Turn 10,its all about making new friends and having a hell of alot fun while doing it.
  Your pics and threads about the massive preperations bring much joy to me.
This is funnest most relaxed motorsports site that I am member of.I have met alot of people that I consider to be my closest friends.I apologize to Robspot,IRW as well as any other forum members who are possibly a bit tired of hearing us carry on.
 I would also like to give my opinion on the Lemans vs. Sebring thing.
Lemans is by far the most prestigous sports car in the world , bar none.But I have never been there so I cant carry on about it.Sebring is the most important sports car race in the USA.I love Sebring and will continue to go every year that the good lord is willing to let me.
 

So would guys please bombard me with all of the pics,  vids and stories of your preperations and past experiences.It does mean alot to me.

Thanks Randy :D :D :D :D


One more thing

LETS HERE A BIG CHEER FOR THE GIMP !!! :o :o :o :o

Randy, I'm sure that if you could get yourself a cheap flight over to the UK we could get you to Le mans, feed and water you and get you back into the UK again no trouble with very little expense to yourself.
I'm sure that you would be made welcome by any CA member at their campsite.
you may only ever go to Le Mans once but you will never forget it

I have never been to Sebring, but I have been to every Le mans 24hr since 1980, the first 7 with my mum & dad, then with just my brother until the early 90's when more of my friends started to join us. The size of group has varied up to about 10, which is the number that will be with us again this year, 3 of whom are LM virgins.

Over the years I have meet some wonderful people there and can't imagine a year that I don't go, I have come close a couple of times, one year I had to leave my pregant wife in hospital, thnakfully it all turned out well, another time it missed exams at school to go. Some years I could hardly scrape togeather enough money for the ferry. But i have always made it, and as long as the good lord spares me I hope to contine

Ok the track may not be the same, the viewing may not be as good......But it is still a magicial place that can make you get goose bumps, the silance after the cars have left the start on there first lap, followed 4 minutes later by more noise than your ears can bear, getting back trackside early sunday morning and seeing the travel stained cars still pounding rounding for example.

I hope you have as good a time there as I have had and you can take back some great memories.

There always seem to be people in groups who have spare seats in cars going to and from Le Mans.

The only difficult bit would be getting a cheap flight to the UK, everything else is just logistics :)

I had a couple of Newbies last year, and when the cars fired up just before the parade lap, one leaned over to me as we sat in the grandstand and just said 'Thanks'.  The atmosphere had got to him in a big way.

I know how you feel, Randy - I would dearly like to come over for Sebring, but now on a (very) limited income, it is unlikely. I've been going to LM since '65, and that has to be the priority for me. Now where's that lottery ticket?? 

Del

sh*t - I've just written the most immense of all immense posts and lost it!!!   

Arse.    I'll have another go when I regain the will to live  ;D

I think that does it for many people, certainly did with me.

Yep - that's the moment that does it for me too. All that planning, the anticipation, everything coming to the moment before the off. Fantastic.......

In fact, talking about it now, is making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I get emotional at the start and the finish of the race.

However, I cried at the end of the 24 hr 2CV race at Snetterton last year so don't suppose that counts!

I don't suppose a grid full of 2CV's (what IS the collective noun for 2CV's??) sounds much like the 25000+ horsepower on the LM grid.

Del

 In 1990 I had tickets for the race and due to redundancy put paid to me going .......which at the time I was totally gutted.


Then  in early 98.Pretzel asked me if I would go out to the race in 99 for his 40th birthday....to which I said yes.....what a fool.



Then on spec my   brother in-law and I decided to go to the 98 race and have a preliminary look at this Le Mans to see what  this thingy was all about.

So with a 2 man tent,portable barbie and 2 deckchairs,off we went to see the greatest motor racing event in the world.

In 98 we stayed on the overspill campsite called"Karting North",which we had to pitch the tent in between the piles of earth that had been dumped there. A far cry from today's level tidy site. The toilets were portaloo's and after 1 day were not even fit for humans to use!!!!!.

Here we are 9 years later....still going and making life more comfortable on the camping front with friges lighting and all the other gear you take.

But ......I always look forward to just before the start of the race when the national anthems are played.........You feel it is great to be british when all the fans sing at full volume , you would think you were at an event at home and not in France!!!!!!!!..........and then the race begins.


Wishy

Mr Amazing Please, please don’t take my comments about Sebring in any way other than pure envy at not being able to get there, had hoped to be there this year but redundancy and lack of finances made it impossible. Just loved the reports of the crazy Turn 10 crew, one day I'll be there.
The impression is that most goings on are within the Sebring Raceway, if so, the difference at Le Mans is that it starts at the ferry ports, on the boat, the journey down and then the whole city is buzzing around the race, as it has since the historical beginnings. Doesn’t matter where you camp, you'll make friends, everyone is up for a good time and a laugh, get a problem, somebody will have a fix, need something, somebody will have it. Club Arnage just keeps it going whilst waiting in between!
If it’s not possible this year, start stashing a few bucks a week for next year, you're presence (and other compatriots) and sense of humour would be appreciated. Alternatively get a loan and pay it back over the next year!     
 

A guy I met through work joined us for his first Le Mans in 2003. 46 years old and fulfilling a lifelong dream to go to Le Mans. He'd never gone since none of his friends had ever had any interest in motor racing. Same thing happened to him, Del. Engines fired up and the cars disappeared out of sight on the parade lap. I looked across at him to see he was blubbing like a child in floods of tears, completely overwhelmed by the occasion. Le Mans really is that special!!

Tubs, you and Delboy nailed it for me as well!!   A lifelong (since 14 years old) dream of going to Le Mans and at 59 years old, I went for the first time.  Not many Americans even know about it or to those that know, it's just a distant place where cars run for 24 hours and we read an excerpt in Motor Trend, Road and Track, or Car and Driver.  It's a dream that they will never know. 

But I was fortunate year before last and Giles from Le Mans and Brian, Jimmy, Ian, and Chris, the Liverpool Boys made me most welcomed.  They counldn't have been more accomodating and helpful.  I had the emotional tears, crying like a baby, heart pounding just like the drivers, and a soft moment just before 4:00 o'clock and I thanked God for those guys who made it special for me.  It was one of the most emotional times of my life.  I owe them a lifelong debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. 

Then, last year a repea, with the Liverpool Boys and the addition of JP Chenet (Mark who secured my tickets for me and drove in to London to bring them to me) and many of the CAer's who make it work for ill prepared visitors from another continent.   I know this sounds so soapy to some, especially those who are lucky enough to have gone for years and maybe take the whole Le Mans experience for granted, but try to remember the first time.....

Randy, just get there and it will happen.   Have faith brother, and connect up with these guys.  You will get a chance to repay some who manage to come to Sebring....  If you truely love endurance motor racing, your life WILL be empty until it's done.....
John

I'm in complete agreement with Randy on this, PLEASE tell us any and all. LeMans has been a legendary place for me since I was a child. It was the stuff of legends for me before Ford attacked with the GT40s, and reading about the likes of Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, A.J. Foyt, the Ford GTs and Cobras was a huge part of my introduction and subsequent love affair with sports cars and road racing.  When I wandered into Turn 10 a year ago for Thursday practice I had my "Sebring Moment", and someday I WILL make it to LeMans. (Randy, you will too!)  In the meantime, "more please!!!!". Where do you camp, when do you get there, what's it like the week of the race, any and all details, and lot of pictures too, OK? Do you drive, take a car ferry, how crowded is it, can you see, can you get in the paddock?????
Thanks!
John

A Scrapheap of 2CV's??????  ;D ;D

As one who has been fortunate enough to get to Sebring for the 12 Hours for the last couple of years, and, more importantly, to be welcomed like a long lost son into the wonderful hospitality, camaraderie and friendliness of the guys at Turn 10, I can only reiterate to Randy that, when you finally make it across the pond to these shores, we will all gladly repay the hospitality.

One thing I find typically constant about the 24 Hours - you spend Saturday night on the beer / bbq / whatever and finally get into your sleeping bag.  You eventually wake up the following morning - and the cars are still hammering relentlessly around the track.

Don't know if any of you  others have found this. I always manage to get off to sleep OK, usually due to the vaste quantities of alcohol consumed. No problem with noise from the cars until a safety car incident bunches up the field and the sudden quiet always wakes me up.

Strange?

Interesting Bob. 
I used to find that when I was at sea in the merchant navy.  Normal background noise is the main engine / diesel generators / pumps etc.  You get used to this and can sleep without any problems.  However, when the generator blacks out and the whole job stops and everything is deathly quiet - then you wake up  :o

I think that's called 'panic', Steve.

Del

its the same if you fall asleep with the light or tv on - youll normally sleep fine until someone turns it off...

Yeah my dad used to do that all the time, then wake up n say "I was watching that"!!!  >:(

...10 years ago I fulfilled a long time dream and made it to LeMans, had such a great time and met such great people...I have returned every year since.
....2 years ago I fulfilled a long time dream and made it to Sebring. had such a great time and met such great people...I have returned every year since.
.....hope I never have to decide between the two, would be an extremely difficult decision.

ha, we were in the same field then too!  did you join in the game of cricket which the whole campsite seemed to play?

Could not agree more...

>Martini...

Randy I reckon $2 or $3 a day in loose change into the cookie jar sees you at LM next year. Do it!

Randy

I knew someone who had a 'starbucks and subway' jar. He took a flask of coffee to work and made his own sandwiches, put about £4 a day in the jar, and that jar paid for his holiday each year. Probably still does.

Go fo it (And I've not even been yet!)

Now that brings back memories.   ;D

It happens for me as we sit in the LM traffic jam (i get there on Friday) for the campsites and then thundering over the bridge just above you is a Panoz/Vette/Morgan (a noisy one) and you haven't even got out of the car yet. Magical moment.